2022-06-23
Psalm 37:21 NIV
Sometimes we might feel nervous, or even fearful, of giving. Especially when we’re giving money. We can think of money as security and protection, and as soon as we give it away, we lose our safety net. But actually when we trust God, the opposite is true. Our sense of freedom and security increases when we give, because giving is a declaration that our security rests in something other than our bank balance and our potential to earn more.
Giving is an act of confidence in God. The more we’re willing to trust Him and give when He nudges us, the less insecure we’ll feel about giving. The Bible says: ‘One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed’ (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV). It might sound counterintuitive to us, but from God’s perspective it makes sense.
Paul wrote: ‘”A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.” Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others’ (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 CEV).
In our hands, a pound will never be worth more than a pound. But when we sow it into God’s kingdom, it’ll begin a harvest that has the potential to bless so many people in ways we couldn’t have imagined. So if God prompts you to give, take a step of faith, trust Him to meet your needs, and sow confidently into His kingdom.
2 Kings 24-25; Matt 20:29-34; Ps 144:1-8; Pro 14:1-4
2022-06-22
Galatians 6:2 NLT
Astronauts have all kinds of equipment full of support systems to keep them alive and safe. And it’s the same in our relationships. Everyone needs a support system. We’re not designed to live life alone. Sometimes when others disappoint us, we might say, ‘I’m better off on my own!’ But that’s a mistake. It’s the sheep who strays from the rest of the flock that gets caught by a wolf. One of Satan’s strategies is to isolate us so he can break us more easily. ‘A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT).
When we have a good support network of friends and loved ones, we can share our burdens, find encouragement, and be uplifted when we face disappointments. Support gives us a sense of connection and acceptance, which are core human needs. It provides a place to be vulnerable, where we can feel safe in saying, ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘Can you help me,’ or ‘I need a hug.’ This type of support is God’s way. We don’t always find it in our own families, but we can turn to the family of God.
Finally, don’t forget to show appreciation towards those who support you. Support doesn’t just work one way: ‘Share each other’s burdens.’ We mustn’t get so engrossed in our own problems that we forget others have problems too. Take time to ask about them and about any concerns or worries. It’s in the give-and-take of supporting each other that we grow and fulfil our God-given potential in life.
2 Kings 21-23; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 139:13-24; Pro 13:25
2022-06-21
1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV
When we read God’s Word and believe it and act on it, it’s like seeds growing inside us. Those seeds have life. We don’t have to understand the process they go through to grow, we just have to water, nurture, and protect them. And it’s the same with Scripture. Paul writes, ‘You welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe’ (v.13 NKJV). Remember the phrase ‘effectively works in you’. God’s Word is self-sustaining; it doesn’t need validation from others.
In the New Testament, when Jesus was walking on the water towards His disciples, Peter said, ‘Lord, if it’s you… tell me to come’ (Matthew 14:28 NIV). Jesus gave him one word, ‘Come’ (v.29 NIV), and Peter started walking. The other disciples probably didn’t believe Peter could do it, because they didn’t really understand who was speaking to him. ‘They thought [Jesus] was a ghost’ (Mark 6:49 NIV)!
This story contains an important lesson for all of us: when God speaks to us through His Word, we mustn’t expect everybody to understand, agree, or support us. It’s natural for us to want people to see what we see, understand our perspective, and believe in what we’re doing. But in this Scripture, God prepares us for rejection by those who don’t understand what God has told us. Other people’s opinions can make us doubt what God’s said to us. Sometimes He’ll confirm what He told you through others, and sometimes He won’t. But as long as you feed on His Word and believe it, it ‘effectively works in you’.
2 Kings 18:17-20:21; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 139:7-12; Pro 13:24
2022-06-20
John 6:63 NKJV
God will speak to you through His Word. Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life,’ but that doesn’t mean we can pick out the feel-good Scriptures and ignore the rest. To grow in faith, we must spend time each day reading through the Bible. We can’t just decide that one verse applies to us and another doesn’t. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives… God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).
A fire is made up of three things: heat, fuel and oxygen. If just one of those things is taken away, the fire goes out, and the warmth and light it brought disappear. It needs all three to keep going and keep growing. It’s the same with our spiritual growth. When God’s Word, an open mind, and a receptive heart get together, something exciting is going to spark! We all need regular exposure to Scripture. Without it, we won’t properly hear what God is saying to us, and we’ll always be dependent on somebody else’s interpretation.
Imagine having to communicate with a friend or a family member like that? It would be difficult, if not impossible, to develop a close, strong relationship. The same idea applies to our relationship with God. So today, spend time with your Bible and let God speak to you personally through His Word.
2 Kings 16:1-18:16; Matt 19:15-30; Ps 139:1-6; Pro 13:21-23
2022-06-19
Lamentations 3:22 NCV
Today is Father’s Day, a chance for us to celebrate and say thank you to our dads and the father figures in our lives. But it can be a time of sadness or resentment if we haven’t had a good experience of a father or our relationship has broken down. But however we feel about our earthly fathers, we always have a heavenly Father who we can rely on.
Take a minute to check on your relationship with Him. Is it strong and constant? Or do you need to rebuild you relationship and reconnect with Him? Even if we’ve neglected or rejected Him, God’s ready to welcome us back with His arms wide open. Just like the prodigal son’s father in Luke 15, God will celebrate the moment we come back. He loves us more than we could deserve or imagine.
The Bible tells us: ‘The LORD’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; LORD, your loyalty is great’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 NCV). ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16 ESV). ‘God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)’ (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT).
God’s love for us never stops or weakens. Whatever your relationship with God is like at the moment, take the opportunity today to thank Him for His amazing love. Reconnect with Him, and be assured that He’s delighted to have you as His child.
Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
2022-06-18
Isaiah 43:18 NLT
Many of us have a drawer, a loft, or a cupboard under the stairs where we can stash clutter and hide away things we don’t want others to see. It might hold broken things that we intend to fix ‘one day’, stuff that we haven’t got round to throwing away, and things that we just don’t know what to do with. And we also have lofts, basements and cupboards in our minds where we store and hide away mental and emotional ‘clutter’, and it’s hard for us thrive until we begin the process of clearing it out. We’re talking about things like 1) regrets we have over past mistakes, 2) grudges we hold on to when we feel we’ve been wronged, and 3) hurts we hide under clouds of anger, scepticism, and isolation. Clinging to hurts and nourishing grudges can eat away at our souls, consume our happiness, and halt our progress. It keeps us trapped in the past.
And just like sorting through the junk in a house, once we clear out the clutter of the past, letting go of the things we don’t need and fixing the things that still have value, we get a clearer view of the good things we have in our lives right now and can appreciate them even more! Clearing out the clutter comes down to following these two Scriptures: 1) ‘Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors’ (Matthew 6:12 NKJV) and 2) ‘Forget all that – it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT). So today, deal with the clutter, and look forward to what God’s going to do!
2 Kings 13-15; Matt 19:1-14; Ps 73:17-28; Pro 13:20
